Today's useless information.

The Tolpuddle Martyrs were transported for a number of years for "taking an oath against the king" - that oath being one to unite and fight against the landlords who were starving them and their families with low wages, extortionate rents and uneven distribution of food. The oath was not made in the name of the King and on the pretence that 'who is not for us is against us', they were found guilty of treason and transported to Australia. Someone pointed out that the king (one of the Georges) was a Freemason - and Freemasonry did not mention the monarch either. As the king was guilty of taking an oath against himself, he was in a bit of a pickle. Rather than have himself transported, he had the 'Martyrs' pardoned and several of them made it back home to Dorset.

LTS